CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake has brought the latest breast cancer screening technology to Clearlake.

With the hospital’s new cutting-edge 3D mammography service, Lake County women now have access to clearer images and pinpoint accuracy proven to increase cancer detection rates.

The medical imaging team provided a 3D mammography screening to their first patient on June 1.

Studies have shown that 3D mammography, otherwise known as digital breast tomosynthesis, provides greater accuracy in pinpointing the size, shape and location of tumors, especially for women with dense breast tissue.

By taking multiple pictures of each breast in just four seconds, a 3D mammogram gives radiologists clear, highly focused images of breast tissue, layer by layer.

St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake is one of few locations in the region to offer this advanced medicine technology.

Previously, women would have to drive 50 miles from Clearlake to access this state-of-the-art imaging service.

“This cutting edge technology is just one more way we’re helping to keep the women of Lake County healthy and breast cancer free,” said David Santos, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s president and chief executive officer. “We’re investing in this technology because women and families in our community deserve access to advanced medicine close to home.”

Research shows that 3D mammography results in a 29-percent increase in detection of all breast cancers and a 41-percent increase in detection of invasive breast cancers.

When it is detected and treated early, women have the best chance of beating breast cancer.

The 3D mammography technology benefits all women, not just those with a family history of breast cancer or dense breast tissue.

“Increased detection means fewer unnecessary biopsies and diagnostic evaluations,” said Amber Thompson, director of medical imaging. “We hope this helps Lake County women return to their lives with peace of mind.”

3D mammography has revolutionized detection by taking multiple pictures of each breast from many angles.

During the imaging session, an X-ray tube moves in an arc around the breast, taking 11 images in a matter of seconds. This is done with the same two compressions as a 2D mammogram and with no increased radiation exposure.

The 3D mammography and bone density (DXA) scanning services available in the new Medical Imaging Suite in the Hilltop Professional Building at 15322 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

These services are covered by Medicare and most major insurance plans.

Schedule a screening by calling 707-995-5638.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake Parts, the local Napa Auto Parts stores, are planning huge tool and equipment sales at its stores this week.

The one-day sales will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at stores in Clearlake, Kelseyville, Lakeport and Upper Lake.

Proceeds from the sales will benefit Valley fire victims.

The schedule of sales is as follows:

– Tuesday, June 21: Upper Lake store, 555 E. Highway 20.

– Wednesday, June 22: Kelseyville store, 3576 Big Valley Road.

– Thursday, June 23: Lakeport store, 1015 S. Main St. Special guest appearances by race car driver Chase Elliott.

– Friday, June 24: Clearlake store, 14942 Lakeshore Drive.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The nonprofit Konocti Rod and Gun Club has announced its latest scholarship winners.

The group has awarded scholarships to graduating high school seniors since 2005.

The program began with two $250 awards, and awarded amounts increased as the club’s membership grew.

This year's scholarship winners are Rachel N. Kelley from Clear Lake High School, $1,000; Madelyn M. Copas from Konocti Education Center, $1,000; and Wyatt R. Jones from Middletown High School, who received the $250 Reggie Dencan Memorial Scholarship.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the County of Lake, State of California, will hold a public hearing to consider a one-year extension of time (GPD EX 16-01) for General Plan of Development (GPD 05-06) for a resort development and condominiums.

The project is located at 5115 & 5250 E. State Hwy 20, Nice, CA APNs: 004-032-12, 004-033-07, 004-034-09, -12, -13, -14 & -15 and the project applicant is Jim Fetzer.

The staff report will be available for review at the Community Development Department in the Lake County Courthouse, 255 North Forbes Street, Lakeport, California ten (10) days before the hearing.

Questions or comments can be directed to Joshua Dorris, who may be reached at (707) 263-2221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The public hearing will be held in the Board of Supervisor’s Chambers in the Courthouse on July 14, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at which time and place interested persons may attend and be heard.

If you challenge the action of the Planning Commission on any of the above stated items in court, it may be limited to only those issues raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or written correspondence delivered to the Lake County Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing. 


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Robert Massarelli, Director


By: ______________________________________
Danae Bowen, Office Assistant III  

This past autumn, pruning a big lilac bush, I found a snakeskin that some bird had woven into its nest.

Here's a poem about another find, from Stephen Behrendt, who lives and teaches in Nebraska. His most recent book is Refractions, from Shechem Press.

Snakeskin

Pruning back the old spirea bushes
that sprawled for years in summer's heat,
I bared the snake skin, a yard and a half long:
its naked empty length rippled in the streaming wind
lifting its ghostly coils from the dead shoots
that scraped the slough from the slithering body
that shed it in that narrow, shaded space.

I paused—who wouldn't?—shears poised,
slipped off gray canvas gloves, extracted
the sere, striated casing from the brown stalks
that had held it, silent, hidden.

I coiled the paper-thin curling sheath with care,
delicately, eased it into a simple squatty box
for keeping, for care, for my daughters
to take to school, to show, to explain
how some sinuous body we've never glimpsed,
that haunts about our shrubs, our porch,
left for us this translucent, scale-scored wrapper,
this silent hint of all that moves unseen.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They do not accept unsolicited submissions. Poem copyright ©2014 by Stephen C. Behrendt, “Snakeskin,” (Refractions, Shechem Press, 2014). Poem reprinted by permission of Stephen C. Behrendt and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2016 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Gaddy Shack Ranch is hosting a Clear Lake Junior Horsemen Extravaganza Sunday, June 26, beginning at 9 a.m.

The event is to promote and encourage young Lake County equestrians, ages 7 to 17, to consider membership in this fun and exciting group.

The Clear Lake Junior Horsemen group is a dedicated to keeping Lake County youth involved in the traditional skills of horsemanship, horse mastership and sportsmanship.

Through the hard work of the members and advisors, many of the traditions established by the club in the 1940s are alive and well today. One of these time honored favorites is the drill team.

The extravaganza will include performances by the CLJH Drill Team and the adult Random Chaos Drill Team, a gymkhana, barrels and poles, jackpot barrels and poles, lead line barrels, ribbons for prizes and highpoint, and raffle tickets for each class entered.

Gaddy Shack Ranch is located at 3050 Gaddy Lane, Kelseyville.

For more information, contact Debbie James at 707-338-1014.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program is now taking applications for 37 elk hunting opportunities.

The hunts will take place Aug. 15 through Dec. 13 on 21 properties in Colusa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino and Siskiyou counties. Applications will be on sale from Friday, June 17 through Monday, July 25.
 
Fifteen of the 21 properties are new additions to the SHARE Program, which partners with private landowners to provide additional hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities for the public.

Participating landowners receive liability protection and compensation for providing public access to or through their land for wildlife-dependent recreational activities.

More information about the SHARE program, including specifics for the upcoming  elk hunts, can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/share .
 
All elk tags will be distributed through a random draw process. These hunts are in addition to those issued through the big game drawing and no preference points will be considered or used.

Applications can be purchased by anyone with a valid California hunting license from any CDFW license office or online at www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales .
 
An $11.37 nonrefundable application fee will be charged for each hunt application. Successful applicants will be notified on July 29.
 
Hunters are reminded it is legal to take only one elk in California per year.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio will host a wine release party with Andy Pestoni of Jelly Jar Wines on Sunday, June 26, from 2 to 5 p.m.
 
The $10/per person (complimentary for Wine Studio club members) wine sampler and appetizers will showcase Jelly Jar Hearsay White Blend (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat), Rosé and Old Vine Zinfandel.

Andy Pestoni is a fourth generation winemaker whose great-grandfather, Albino Pestoni, came from Italy with his family and settled in St. Helena in the late 1890s.

Making wine was part of their heritage. Backyard vineyards were planted and family members were enlisted to harvest and crush grapes. They crafted food-friendly wines to enjoy around the family table – most often out of jelly jars.

Pestoni worked harvests at Beaulieu Vineyard while attending college and then went on to work in the cellar at Ferrari-Carrano in Sonoma County for several years.

When his father and uncle bought a winery in the town of Rutherford they asked Pestoni to join them to launch their new family winery. Pestoni has been the winemaker at Rutherford Grove Winery & Vineyards since 1996.

In 2005, Pestoni and his wife Shannon founded Jelly Jar Wines, a family endeavor marking a return to early California winemaking and their family heritage, and together they handle every aspect of production from start to finish.

Jelly Jar Wines are made with Lake County wine grapes from single vineyard sites Pestoni has personally chosen for their unique character, which he crafts into food-friendly wines to be enjoyed with family and friends.

The Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake, telephone 707-275-8030.